Safety apparatus fob elevatobs



J. MUTTON.

SAFETY APPARATUS FOR ELEVATORS.

APPLICATION HLQD NOV. 22fl9l5.

Patnted May 27,1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

JOHN ormon, or-c'LE vnLANp, 01110.-

SAFETY APPARATUS FOR ELEVATORS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 27, 1919.

Application filed November 22, 1915. :Seria1No. 62,710.

To all wlwmz't may concern:

Be it s-known that I, JoHN MU'ProN, a .citi-. zen of the United States of America, residing at Cleveland, in the county of-Cuyahoga andState ofOhio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Safety-Apparatus for Elevators, of whiclrthe following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in safety apparatus for elevators, and more particularly to such apparatus as isadapted for electrical actuation; the objects of my improvement being to prevent the movement of the elevator car at all timesexcept when the .doorsor gates are closed; to prevent the opening of the doors or gates at all times except w-henthe car is standing at the corresponding level of any one of .the gates; to automatically disconnect the actuating current when the car is outof, service; to afford proper signals for indicating the operating conditions and generally for the improvement of the ,elevatorcontrol, as will appear in and by the followingspecification.

My improvements are herein shown somewhat diagrammatically, in connection with an elevator equipped with vertically sliding gates, and provided with an electro-mechanical control therefor, and with electric signal lights,.althoughsaid invention is not necessarily limited to the details which I shall hereinafter explain.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, in connection with which-I may best explain my invention:

Figure 1 illustrates partially in diagram and partially in vertical section, an elevator shaft, an elevator car, electrical circuits and associated safety apparatus, for the control ofsaid car and of the vertical sliding gates.

Fig.2 is a View in side elevation, showing the mechanical gate-locking appliance and its circuit controlling apparatus.

Figs. 3 and 4, respectively show in front elevation partially broken away, and side elevation partially sectioned, the electrically actuated cable-gripping mechanism.

Fig. 5 isa transverse sectional view of a portion ,of'the latter on line 5,5, Fig. 3; and Figs. 6 and 7 respectively, show in side and end elevations, the switching apparatus operated by the cable sheave.

:Fig. 8s ows a compact type of control. lin switch. 1

. l e same character of reference is em- In addition to the automatic controlling switch just mentioned, said electrical apparatus comprises an additional two-position switch associated with the gate-locking ap paratus at each floor level, and shown in Fig. 2, for the purposeof operating the floor signals and the cable-gripping mechanism. Said cable-gripping mechanism in turn, comprises an electrical solenoid operating in opposition to a spring, which normally tends to grip the operating cable and prevent the movement of the car. Thus the car and gates are made interdependent, 'while the energizing circuit is automatically disconnected to prevent the waste'of current and possible damage to the solenoid, from overheating.

Current is supplied from the electrical mains controlled by the hand switch (l, from which conductors 1,2, respectively lead to the gate locking appliances, and to the sheave-controlled switch, just above noted. The conductor 3 continues the circuit from said switch through the solenoide, of the cable-gripping apparatus, from which conductor 4 further continues the circuit through a signal lamp a positioned within the car and to the opposite sides of the gatelock circuits. Floor signals are also provided adjacent to each gate and locking device, as lamps f, f, connected with conductor 2 .while conductors 5 and 6 connect the same to the opposite side of the circuit. Conductors 7, in turn respectively connect the gate-lock switches with the main 1 of the controlling circuit.

A somewhat detail description of the associated apparatus must be here included, in order that the electrical features of my invention may be more readily grasped, although I do not necessarily confine my invention to the embodiment which is here chosen for extended explanation. Each of the gates g, g is provided with a rack, as

tween the aws g, best shown in Fig; .2. [This rack is mounted upon the gate in position normally to engage the switch arm h of the gatelocking device, while the spring pressed bolt 2' thereof, will lie within one of the notches of said rack, and detain the gate in its closed position, as indicated by the dotted lines.

When the car is opposite any one of these gate-locks, however, the .cam 04. engages with the roller 2' upon the controlling lever c", and withdraws the bolt, as shown in Fig. 2. Under these circumstances, the gate and its rack g may be elevated, thus releasing the "switch arm h, and engaging its lower contact it, between theterminals 5, 6, to light the floor-signal lamp 7. "lVhen the gate is depressed, and looked, as indicated in the lower portion of Fig. 1, however, the rack g engaging the extended end of switch arm 71., presses its upper contact 72/ between the ten minals 4, 7, thereby closing the circuit through the unlocking or releasing solenoid e, of the'cable-locking mechanism.

This latterdevice, shown in turn in Figs. 8 and 4, comprises said solenoid, a plunger 6, the connecting link 6 operatively associated with the gear j, its transversely movable rack j and the gripping jaws j of the cable-locking device. This entire mechanism, principally for convenience of illus-' tration, is shown to be mounted at the top of the car upon the rods and between opposing springs 7c, is, so that the device is resiliently supported, in order-to afford the cable some freedom of movement when gripped, for a purpose which I shall now explain. g

It will be noted that one of the main'eonductors 2 extends through the switch Z, at the top of the elevator shaft; the mechanism thereof, being best shown in Figs. 6 and 7. The switch normally stands open, as indicated in'dotted lines, when the car is not in operation, for the purpose of automatically preventing the continued energization of the solenoid. Said switch Z is providedwith a switch arm Z, adapted normally to rest in the notch of the cam 6, provided upon the cable sheave Z). In this dotted line position,

the switch contacts are out of engagement,

but a slight rotation-of said cam 12 causes the arm to ride upon its circular periphery, and engages "the movable contacts Z with the stationary contacts m for the purpose of closing-the circuit through the releasing solenoidep V In order to accomplish this initial movement'of the cable sheave, it will be observed that. the cable-locking mechanism is springmounted, so as to permit a slight movement thereof with the cable tightly grippedbe under the influence of the spring-e The switch Z automatically opensthe circuit when the cable 0 is actuated by the operator for bringing the car to a" standstill, smiths locking jmechanism at once automatically grips said cable as above explained. The switch Z, on the other hand,

invariably is closed whenever the car is in motion, through the engagement of the periphery of the circular cam b with the switch lever Z. V

' The cooperation of the gate-lock switch of Fig. 2, invariably is necessary, however, in order that the car may be started from its position of rest, for the reason that theconductor 4 is opened within'the gate locking appliance whenever the contact h is permitted to withdraw from between the terminals 4, 7, through the opening of the associated gate. 7

,A description of the concerted action of the several mechanisms briefly referred to above, will now be readily understood.

lVith the car a, standing at the second level,

and the gate 9, elevated, as shown, it will be impossible for the operator, or any one on another floor to start the car, until said gate has been closed. Under these circumstances, the light a in the car, is extinguished by reason of the doubly opened cir-' cuit through conductor 4, while the floor mechanism, as shown by the full lines in Fig. 2.

For convenience, the return cable 0 runs past the diiferent floors exteriorly of the car, so that said car may be operated from any floor, if the safety apparatus 'is in proper co-acting relation, as will be further explained. Thus, upon closing the gate either the operator withm the car, or some one upon another floor may start said car,

by pulling upon the cable 0, 0, sufficiently to rotate the cam Z), for elevating the switch arm Z, to close the controlling'circuit, inasmuch as the circuit primarilywill be closed through contacts 4, '7, immediately the rack g andits attached gate are fully lowered,-while the springs is 70 atford sufiicientplay for the cable locking device, to permit of some slight independent movement of the cable against the tension, of one or the other set of said springs. Lam a in the car, accordingly will be lighted, while the floor lamps will be ex tinguished, and said car will be caused to travel to the desired level, by any ofthe well known elevator motor-mechanisms,

which-need not be shown, nor further re ferred toherein. is a V V V 7 Immediately cable 0, .0 is brought'to the posltlon for stopping the car, however,

switch Z is automatically opened under the 1mpulse,fboth of theweight and spring, whereby the lever arm'is caused to drop" within the groove of cam Z)". The cable,

gripping mechanism at once actsto' engage, and-hold the cable in this position, under,

may a the influence of s ring '6 Since solenoid c has become 'denergizedf Cam a? will be brought 1 into] enga ement with the corre'f sponding lever-arm if, thereby. actuating thebolt t' to release'the rack and permitthei gate 9 to be' opened; None ofthe other gates upon the" elevator shaft in question, how ever may be opened, fort-hereason that they are mechanically locked and the 'car cannot be moved from the'opened gate, for the reason that the cable is tightly gripped and the releasing circuit is opened between contacts 4 and 7 of the gate-lock switching mechanism.

In Fig. 8, I have shown an extremely simple form of contact-switch containing structural features which lend themselves" to the purposes of switch Z above mentionedf This comprises a pivoted arm on carryin the weighting rotatable roller n, adapted to travel upon the surface of cam Z) and fit within its notch when in proper position. Arm m carries the movable contact of the paired carbon contacts m, m; the latter having a spring-mounting 0, through which the controlling circuit may be automatically closed or may be similarly opened, upon the engagement of the roller with the notch in said cam b.

I am aware that some of the safety operating conditions just described have been separately secured by mechanism of different construction, but in none of these has there been provided the complete co-acting system set forth above in some detail, and here defined as my improvement.

I accordingly assert as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, together with such modifications as may be made by mere skill, the following 1. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with an elevator car of means for effecting the travel of the car, an electromechanical locking-mechanism normally acting to render said means inoperative, and an automatic switch associated therewith for interrupting the movement of said means while the car is at rest, said switch being operated by the car operating means for causing it to return to its original position to permit the car to be moved, substantially as set forth.

2. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with an elevator car of controlling mechanism therefor, electro-mechanical means normally acting to render said mechanism inoperative, a circuit extending from, any suitable source through said electro-mechanical means, and an automatic switch actuated by said controlling means to disconnect the circuit when the elevator car is stopped, substantially as set forth.

3. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with an elevator car of a. plurality of gates positioned along the line of travel of said car, individual locking devices therefor, unlocking means provided upon the car, a switch, means on the gates foroperating the switch, an'electrdmechanie cal mean for withholding the car from operation, a circuit extending through said adapted to cooperate with the electro me-' chanical means for holding the car from operating.

4. The combination with an elevator car of anelectro-magnetic appliance normally operated for preventing the travel ofthe car, a yielding mounting therefor to permit a limited" independent movement, and an automatic switch associated with the electromagnetic appliance adapted to be closed with such limited movement, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination with an elevator car of its controlling cable, an electro-magnetic cable-gripping mechanism normally operable to prevent the actuation of the cable, a spring mounting therefor adapted to permit a limited independent movement thereof and of the cable, an automatic cut-off switch operated upon the stoppage of thecar and controlled by the cable for causing said cable gripping mechanism to be operated and prevent the movement of the car, and an actuating member therefor adapted to close the switch upon the limited movement permitted for said cable, substantially as set forth.

6. The combination with an elevator car of its controlling cable, an electro-magnetic cable-gripping mechanism normally operable to prevent the actuation of the cable, a spring mounting therefor, adapted to permit a limited independent movement thereof and of the cable, a gate lock disabling switch associated with the gate lock, an automatic cut-off switch opera-ted upon the stoppage of the car and controlled by the cable for causing said cable gripping mechanism to be operated and prevent the movement of the car, and an actuating member therefor, adapted to close the switch upon the limited movement permitted} for said cable, substantially as set forth.

7 The combination with the controlling means for an elevator car, of an electrically actuated safety apparatus for said car, a switch for governing the action of said safety apparatus, acam associated with said controlling means adapted to have engagement with the switch for maintaining it in position whereby the car may be operated,

ated to prevent the movement of the car.

8. The combination with car controlling means of the cable type and cable gripping members therefor, of a spring under tension to force said members into their ripping position,; electro-magnetic means or normally opposing said spring, an automatic switch associated with said magnetic means, an electric circuit extending to said magnetic means andswitch, and means operable by said controlling means for causing the automatic switch to be moved for Opening and closing the circuit, to cause the gripping members to engage or disengage the car controlling means. 7

v 9. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with two toothed gripping members of arack operatively engaging said toothed members, means for actuating the rack, including a spring tensioned means to? force the gripping members into gripping position, and a solenoidnormally energized 20 to overcomejthe spring tension, and for maintaining the gripping .members inert, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I do now afiix my signature in the presence of two witnesses. H 5;

JOHN MUT oN. L. 8.

Witnesses:

G. DE STANTON, V ALBERT LYNN LAWRENCE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained forfive cents each, by addressing the Gom1nissioner of latents,

Washington, D. C. V 

